Providing Potential for Progress: Learning Support for Students with Special Educational Needs

Abstract

This paper considers the purposes, methods, findings and significance of the British Library LESSEN (Learning Support for Special Educational Needs) Project. The focus was on Year 7 students, i.e., in their first year of secondary education (aged 11-12 years), in ten English secondary schools who were on the Special Educational Needs (SEN) register because of their learning difficulties. Case studies were undertaken in 10 schools located in five Local Education Authorities (LEAs). Data were collected from documents, observation and an extensive interview program, both within schools and with LEA and schools library services staff. Work with individual children was also undertaken, supporting in subject lessons and in the SEN base, as well as assisting in the library, to provide an action research element to the investigation. Varying levels of library and staffing were found and recommendations were made as to future progress. The project report, Learning support for special educational needs is due for publication in 1997 by Taylor Graham.